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UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

RUFUS P. BURLINGAME, OF ROCHELLE, ILLINOIS, ASSIGNOR TO HELEN G. BURLINGAME, HIS WIFE.

WASHING-MACHINE.l

Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,015, dated November 21, 1865.

To all whom it may concern:

Beit known that I, RUFUs P. BUELINGAME, of Rochelle, in the county of Ogle and State of Illinois, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Vashing-liachines; and I do hereby declare th at thefollowing is afull, clear, and exact description of the same, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, and the letters and figures marked thereon, which form part of this specification.

The nature of my saidinventiou consists in the arrangement within the box of a washingmachine of an oscillating cradle or inclosure for containing the clothes, said cradle being constructed of parallel curved bars having vertical spaces between, so as to admit the water contained in the machine; and also in the arrangement and combination, with said oscillating cradle, of a series of curved stationary bars attached to the box ofthe machine, passing through the slots or spaces in the aforesaid cradle when in motion, and compressing and cleansing the clothes therein, as hereinafter more fully described.

To enable those skilled in the art to Linderstand how to construct and use myinvention, I will proceed to describe the same with particularity, making reference in so doing to the aforesaid drawings, in which- Figure l represents a transverse sectional view of my invention; Fig. 2, a perspective View ofthe same, part of the exterior being' removed; and Fig. 3 a view in perspective ofthe aforesaid cradle detached.

Similar letters of reference in the different iigures denote the same parts of my invention.

A represents the exterior box or casing of the machine, being supported, as shown, upon the legs or standards, B.

C represents the removable top or cover,C which tits closely to the box A, as shown, so as to confine the steam and heat while the washing is being performed.

D Dl represent a series of vertical partitions attached or secured in position, having intervening spaces between, and constructed substantially in the mannershown, the upper portions thereof projecting over toward the center, so as to form a bearing, against which the clothes are pressed, as hereinafter specified.

E represen ts a rectangular frame, to one end of which the semicircular board G is attached, as shown, said frame being suspended at each end upon the pivot-bearings a, c. To the said rectangular frame E are attached, as shown, a series of curved strips or bars placed near enough together to prevent the clothes from falling through the spaces between, said bars heilig marked Fin the drawings. These strips F extend down nearly to the bottom ofthe box, lying alternately with and between the aforesaid partitions D D. Instead ofbeing curved at the bottom said bars F may be of rectangular form, or they may be curved in the form of semi-hoops, if preferred. Thu-s it will be seen the frame E and strips F form aeradle or receptacle, wherein the clothes to be washed may be placed, and by an oscillating motion upon the bearings a c of said cradle F, which may be given by means of the handle H, attached to G, as shown, a thorough agitation and cleans ing of the clothes is effected.

The object of the semicircular plate G is to keep the slot through which the handle works in the top closed at all times, and thus keep all the steam and heat from the hot water confined in the machine, which greatly facilitates the operation of washing.

It will be observed that, from the construction of the-partitions D, when the cradle is os- `cillated to either side the clothes in the cradle F are pressed against the said projections D, and are clasped between the stationary bars D and the adjustable oroscillaiing bars E,and arc thus thoroughly and speedily cleansed. Without the partitions D, however, the washing is readily and thoroughly accomplished, although a little longer time may be required.

Having described the construction andoperation of my invention, I will specify whatV I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent:

1. The arrangement'of the oscillating slotted box F with the outer box, A, substantially as and for the purposes specified.

2. In combination with the oscillating slot ted box F, the arrangement of the partitions D, constructed and operatingsubstantially as herein set forth and shown.

RUFUS I?. BURLINGAME.

Witnesses:

H. 0. ROGERS, GEO. H. PARKS. 

